OCR Text |
Show I i Shell1 iajajej I 1 Wilden. 1 pY CHAPTER IV. (Continued.) BBJ "You don't seem altogether happy In BB here," a cheery voice calls out at this 2 moment, as Shell's somewhat mocking BB face appears at the open window. H "Happy I" cries Ruby derisively. BBj ,rVould you feel happy caged up with BB a couple of young bears? The children BBj have been behaving shamefully." H "Havo they?" returns Shell In a tono BB which denote doubt, as sho steps In BBJ over tho low window ledgo, and gently BBj begins to stroke Meg's hair, which has BB becomo disheveled through her va- BBj rlous emotions. BBJ Tii child nestles up ngalnst her side, BBj clasping her skirts firmly, as If for pro- BB tectlon, while Dob Indulges In a vigor- B ous welcoming nod, for ho knows ho Is BB not nllowed to speak. BB "Yes, they have given mo qulto a BB headache," pursues Ruby, pressing her BB hand to her brow. "I shall bo fit for B nothing tho rest of tho day If I can't got BB rid of It. I wish you would hoar tho BB children read for me." BB "Why should I?" answers Shell BB bluntly. "As you know, I dlsapprovo BBj of their coming here; and I told you BB from tho first to expect no help from BB me!" BB Shell speaks In French, that the chll-BBj chll-BBj dren may not understand; but Meg BB guesses with tho quick Instinct of BB childhood that sho la refuslpg to take BBJ charge of them. BBj "You hear mo read, Sell?" sho lisps BB with n look of almost piteous entreaty BB on her baby face. "Mo will bo dood." BB Shell looks down for a moment with BB unrelenting eyes then she catches Meg BB up In her strong young arms, gives her BB a resounding kiss, and turning to Ruby, BB says-pa says-pa "All right If you are tired I dont BB mind looking after them till they aro BB fetchod only I don't profess to bo a BB good hand at teaching." BB "I wish you wouldn't bo so rough BB with them," says Ruby, rising from her BB chair wjth a sigh of lntenso relief. BB "Now us Is happy!" cries Rob, slid-BB slid-BB tng down from his chair and stretching BB his small arms with delight as Ruby BB disappears. BB "But us must go on with our les- B sons," says Shell gravely. BB "All right," acquiesces Bob, as ho bo- BB gins to hunt for their reading book. BB "You sit down in the big chair and BBj havo Meg on your lap, Uko you did BBj last ttmo; and I can stand besldo you." BBj "My dear children, Isn't It rather hot BB for that kind ot arrangement?" ox- BBJ postulates Shell, as Meg springs Into BBj her arms, whilst Bob Installs hlm- BBj self with his arm around hor neck. BBj- But the children only know that BBj they love her, and want to bo as nenr BBJ her as posslblo; any such minor con- BBj sldoratlon as the stnte ot the thermo- BBJ meter la a matter of supremo Indlfler- BBj enco to their inexporlonccd and conso- BB quently selfish little minds. BBj That ovcnlng, as luck will havo It, BBj when the children come In to dosaort, BBj their fathor begins to question them as BB to their conduct. BB "I hope you wcro both very good BBj children this morning?" ho says, help- BBS ing each to a plentiful supply ot straw- BBj berrlos. BBj "No, pa us wasn't berry good," falt- BBj urs Meg, with downcast eyes and burn- BBj Ing cheeks. BBJ "Dear mo that Is very sad, Megt" BBJ says Robert Chnmplcy, with a laugh- BBJ tng glance across the table at Ted, BBj "How did you mlsbchavo yourselves?" BBj "I didn't know treo times four," re- Bj piita Meg, looking deeply abashed. BB "That was extremely wicked ot you,' BBJ says her fathor smiling. BJ "And, now that Meg has made an BJ open confession of her sins, we must BJ bear your enormities, Mr. Bobby," BJ laughs his undo. "How did you offend BBJ Miss Wlldon?" BBJ- Bob boaves a profound sigh. BBJ "I did someflnk dreadful," ho says BJ In a low shamed volco. BBJ "Something dreadful?" repeats Ted, BBJ looking lntonsely amused. "Come out BBJ with It." BBJ "Papa, dear, don't b angry wld Bob BBJ he didn't know," Interposos Meg, BJ euddenly, laying bold ot her father's BJ arm and hugging It vigorously, BJ "Dear mo, this la getting alarm- BJ lngl What did you do, Bob?" aslca BJ Mr. Champley with real Interest. BJ Bob takes a kind of gulp to swal- BBJ low down his fear and then he says BJ In on awestruck volco BBJ "I pullod her hair out." BBJ "Qood gracious whoso hair?" asks BJ bis father, looking startlid. BJ "Miss Wlhlen'a," explains Bob, much BBJ nlarmod at the sonsatlon his announce- BJ xnent had created. BH "You young villain!" oxclalms his BBJ uncle. "What Induced you to attack BBJ a lady like that?" BBJ "I didn't attack her," says poor Bob, BBJ on the verge ot &obs. "I just pulled BBJ out her pins for fun, whtn sho was BBJ sotting my copy, and then all her hair BBJ' tumbled down on the carpot" BB "Not all," hastened to explain Meg BBJ "only a lot ot It" BBJ Ted Champley Is seized with a via- kB tent fit nf nniifhlnir. whtflS Kmlda him BBj over to the window tor relief, whilst BBj his older brother as suddenly develops BBj a cold, which necessitates a vast BBj amount ot handkerchief play before BBj he speaks again, thon he says quietly BBj to Bob BB "That was very ungontlemanly ot BB you, and It I hear ot your being rude BBJ again I shall punish you." H CHAPTER V. BBj This threat from his usually lndulg- BBJ1 ont father has such a depressing effect BBJ on Bob's spirits that he makes up his BBj mind to eschew temptation for the fu- BBj BBj "Miss Wilden won't love you If you BBj don't behavo like a gentleman," con- BBJ tlnues the father severely, as an appro- BBJ priate ending to his reprimand, BBJ "Ub don't lovo Mlsa Wlldon," herb Bftt Interrupts Meg with great dignity BBt) "Wie Is s nasty cross old ting." BflP "Nonse&st, Uegl" says her fit her, Bfli placing his hand under her chin and smiling down Into her eyes. "If you don't love Miss Wilden, I am afraid you must bo n hardened llttlo wretch, for" with a dreary sigh "alas, sho Is only too devoted to you!" Meg shakes her head In an uncomprehending uncom-prehending way, nnd ropcata, with a determined little pout "Us don't like hor us loves Sell." "Yes, us loves dear Shell," chimes In Bob eagerly. "She tells us lovely stories." "My dear misguided children, your affection for Miss Shell Is decidedly misplaced," here Interrupt) their uncle, returning from his post at tho window. win-dow. "Sho doesn't like boys and girls at nil." "Not Ilka llttlo boys and dcrls?" repeats re-peats Meg, qulto taken aback by such an extraordinary statement. "No, Indeed In fact sho gavo me to understand that sho almost hated them," repeats Ted, much amused at tho chlldren'a look ot horror. "So I strongly advlso you not to waste your young affections on such an unrospons-Ivo unrospons-Ivo object" The warning, being clothed In words beyond their understanding, makes no Impression on the children's minds, but their strong preference for tho younger slstor strikes their father forcibly, forc-ibly, and he catches hlmsolt murmuring murmur-ing moro than once In a wondering tono "Us loves Shell; us loves dear Shell!" After thnt It often happens that Ruby, Ru-by, under some trifling pretoxt or other, shifts tho burden ot her self-imposed task on to Shell's young shoulders sho has a hcadacho, or Is busy, or has lettors to wrlto; and then Shell, taking pity on tho poor children who aro suro to havo a rough time of It It Ruby Is disinclined for them devotes her morning to their Instruction and amusoment Sho bribes them to bo good at their lessons by tho promlso ot a romp In tho grounds whon their task Is completed; com-pleted; nnd so It happens that Robert Champley, chnnclng to drlvo over himself him-self to fetch them one lato Juno morning, morn-ing, comes upon an unoxpoctcd and to blm a charming slzht. On a moss-grown mound at the front ot a coppcr-beoch slta Shell In a dark print gown, with her bright hair colled around nnd around with daisy-chains, which tho children's busy fingers have been weaving, whilst she tells them a wonderful talo from Fairyland. So engrossed aro all three that they do not becomo nwaro ot tho Intruder's approach until ho has descended from tho trap and walked quietly to wlthfn a faw paces of their resting place; then n ahout of "Papa, papa!" from Meg rouses them all from tholr Ideal world to a realistic one. Shell starts from her lowly seat crlmsonB to tho very roots ot her hair, and puts on as forbidding a look as sh6 can well assume. "Ob, pa, It Is so Jolly; you come and listen, toot" cries Bob, eager that bis father should participate In their on-Joymont. on-Joymont. "Tho princess Is shut up In a dark room, becauso her wicked godmother god-mother won't nllow her ever to seo the sunshine, and the prlnco Is keeping guard outside hor towor with a carriage and six, to carry her away to an Island blazing with light It he gets tho chance.". "Rather trying for her eyes, wont It bo? I should be Inclined to recommend recom-mend her n pair ot spectacles till sho gets used to tho glaro," laughs Robert Champley as ho Bhakes hands with Shell. But Shell has becomo fossilized. She Bhakes hands limply, puts on a stolid conventional expression, and, drawing her small ilgure up to Its fullest height tries to look exceedingly dignified. Her efforts are somewhat marrod by the daisies so profusely twisted around her head; but, as sho la happily forgetful ot their prosenco, they do not trouble her. "Soil, dear, sho didn't have blue spectacles, spec-tacles, did she?" cries Meg, shocked at such a very unromanttc suggestion. "I don't know, I am sure," responds Shell In a tone ot cold Indifference. "But oo does know," cries Meg, waxing wax-ing Impatient, and shaking Sholl'd skirts In her anxiety to have the doubt Bottled. "I om afraid ray children are wearying weary-ing you, Miss Shell," says thilr father rather stllQy. But I have Just conio over to carry them nway," "I find tho easiest way to keep them qulot Is to tell them stories," says Shell bluntly and ungraciously. "I nm very norry that you should be put to so much trouble, particularly as you dislike children," remarks Mr, Cbamploy, with a curious and rathor satirical glanco at lnr flower-decked head. "Ob, It doosn't matter!" answers Shell condescondlngly. "Now then, young monkeys If you are ready wo may as well start," ho says, pointing to the trap which Is waiting wait-ing In tho avenue, "I am going to take you for a drlvo right around by the boo," "Tako Sell too, pa," pleads Meg, catching her tathor's hand and fairly Jumping with delight. "With pleasure, if she will only consent con-sent to go," Is his ready answer, whilst ho darts an amuoed glanco at the girl's Hushed vexed faco. "No, thanks I hato driving." responds re-sponds Shell curtly. "You seem to have a great many detestations, de-testations, Mlsa Shell," says tho gentleman gen-tleman sarcastically, "I havo," Is Shell's laconic answer, "Well, then, since we can't persuade you to accompany us, we may as well start. Como children!" and, making no effort to shake hands, he raises bis hat politely. A latent fear that she has been Inhospitable In-hospitable assalla Sholl. "Won't you go up to tho house?" she asks almost eagorly. "No, thank you since I hay been fortunate em-dgh to meet with ilJ qhlldren here. Good morning." "Oood morning," answers Shell stiffly, stiff-ly, and qulto Ignoring the two little faaes that aro turned up to bar for a goodbye kiss. "Papa, Is ua naughty?" aV Meg as she trots over to the trap betid bay father, "I hopo not. Why?" ho demands absently. "Cause Shell didn't kiss us," answers an-swers Meg In a wondering tone. "Kiss you!" repents her father, laughing. "Sho looked far moro likely to bite." But, all the same, as ho makes the Mscrtlon a memory of Shell as he first camo to hor, with sparkling eyes nnd milling lips, and the two children kneeling besldo hor, rises before his montal vision. "Woll, havo you got rid of those llttlo torments?" asks Ruby languidly, looking up from her book aa Shell en-' ters the room, "Their father has Just como for thom," answers Shell shortly, "Their father oh, whore Is ho?" crlos Ruby, starting from hor chair. "I want to consult him about Bob's writing; and I must speak about the nurse; I am afraid sho la not very careful Meg's hands wero qulto dirty this morning. Where Is ho where did you leave him?" "He Is down by the sea; I didn't leave him ho loft mo," answers Shell drily. "Why did no ono toll mo he was hero?" asks Ruby angrily. "Ho didn't como to the house; I was In the drive with the children, and he picked thom up thero." "How very strange! But It Is all your fault, taking them out the foolish fool-ish way you do. I suppose you were romping Uko a tom-boy when be came." "I was telling them stories." "Anyway you were a ridiculous object," ob-ject," says Ruby, with such an obviously ob-viously scornful sneer that Shell In-stlnctlvoly In-stlnctlvoly glances across the room at hor reflection In the mirror, then for the first time becoming aware ot her profuse decorations. With a sudden access ot wrath she tears tho daUles from her hair, whilst tears ot mortification mortifi-cation rise to hor eyes. "I wouldn't have had him see me so for a hundred pounds," she says angrily. "What nonnensol I dont suppose that ho oven noticed them," observes Ruby with cutting scorn. "Ah, perhaps not!" murmurs Shell with a sigh ot relief; nnd yet, thinking It over, she remembers clearly that twice or three times during their short Intorvlew sho noticed an amused smile flicker over hla faco. (To be Continued.) |